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Hey one character is in here twice. OOPS SPOILERS. (image by collider.com)

I was going to put something above this picture, but I thought that anyone reading this should appreciate the visuals. If I’m being honest, I came into this film for a few of the actors (I’m looking at youu, Rachel Weisz), but I came out incredibly appreciating the production design. This fill simply looks stunning.

I was able to get into the film due to the diligent effort of the LA time’s division for pop culture, being the Hero Complex. I was given free popcorn, soda, and a specified seat so I didn’t have to slap people out of the way in order to watch this.

And then Zach Braff stopped by after the film and talked to the audience about what it was like playing the monkey you see above, and how amazing the sets were. The fact that almost everything was a set was completely mind blowing to me, and really honed in the fact that so many people are so creative on so many different aspects of the film.

Will this film beat the current Hollywood slump? After the huge let down that Jack the Giant Slayer was to the studios, Disney has been hoping that Oz the Great and Powerful would be the film that would begin the epic rise towards the summer blockbusters. But does it do its job?

Eh?

James Franco as the titular Oz invites you in… (image by disneydreaming.com)

My Score: 6/10

Metacritic Score: 51%

See If: You’re a fan of the original novels and want to see where it could be expanded. You like any of the main cast. You’re willing to endure humor that may leave you rolling your eyes at times. Amazing visuals are enough to make the entire movie (*cough* Avatar *cough*)

Pros: James Franco plays an interesting Oz. Rachel Weisz as Evanora and Michelle Williams as Glinda are fantastic. Zach Braff is fun as the comic relief and Joey King as the China Girl (like, literal china) was adorable. The visuals are stunning, to the point where I assumed it all had to be CGI, when it was mainly sets. The story has a great… starting point.

Cons: Mila Kunis attempts to complete eat all of the scenery in scenes later in the film. At times, it’s very obvious where the film is going, and you with a film like this, you wish it wouldn’t take the easy road.

See it?: If you’re okay with a mainly great cast, a simple story, and amazing visuals, then yes. By all means, yes. If you’re looking for a film that has a story as big as it’s visuals, I’d pass. It’s a gorgeous film, but there are other movies that tell much grander stories on a smaller scale.

I realized that many people look at film reviews as whether they should spend a dime on the film at all. Some strange people (like me) actually go for the humorous recaps. I decided to put the opinion first and recap second, just so you don’t have to scroll through endless snark, wondering to yourself if I will ever get to the point.

Also this is long. Beware.

This scene never happens. Just fyi.

Jack the Giant Slayer: 6/10.

Metacritic Rating: 51%

See if: You’re a fan of the cast, you’re looking for some mindless fun, or you’re curious what a film that costs $195 million looks like.

Jack and the Giant Slayer is an obvious attempt to cash on a recent trend of fairy tale movie ideas. Or it it’s an obvious attempt to cash on the fact that Hollywood is pushing Nicolas Hoult as an up and coming film star.

Or it’s an attempt to get butts into seats by making Stantly Tucci a villain and Ewan McGregor a dashing knight.

It certainly got my butt into a seat for that last reason.

Pros: It’s cute, there’s a lot of great actors in it (Stanely Tucci and Ewan McGregor for starters).

Cons: The main characters are on this side of boring, it’s long (the second act drags much longer than necessary), and what the hell happened to Jack’s uncle???

Yay or Nay? If you’re okay spending money on a movie that has a fairly weak plot, slightly useless main characters, and that critics enjoy but the public doesn’t ($25 millon opening weekend on a $200 million dollar film? Uh oh), then go right ahead.